Alphabet Commercial Survey
 

If I remember correctly, in 1923 the U.S. import laws changed from requiring imported objects be marked GERMANY to being marked MADE IN GERMANY. I have decided to expand the Commercial serial number database to include the Alphabet Commercial series looking for this feature particularly, to see if it provides a data point to help refine the production dates of these guns.

So, dust off your Alphabet Commercials please, and send me the following information:

serial number (full, with suffix)

GERMANY, MADE IN GERMANY, or NO export mark

caliber

serial numbers, hidden or exposed

commercial proof?

Also note any noteworthy features, i.e. if it has a barrel other than 3 3/4 in; if it is a Police gun; if so what the unit mark is (if present); if it has any kind of right-receiver acceptance mark; etc. Also, be sure to check your John Martz conversions, as he commonly utilizes Alphabet Commercials as donor guns.

As usual, please post the information here or send it to me at dwightg@pacifier.com. I know there are a lot of these guns out there, I very much appreciate all of you taking the time to check out your Lugers and pass the information on.

--Dwight

Dwight, My alphabet Luger is as follows. #2681d all matching, bbl. and magazine base marked Germany, .30 cal, exposed numbers, no commercial proof, extractor marked loaded, 6 inch bbl. with navy sight base. Hope you find this useful........Fleming

Fleming,

Thanks much. Yours is a Military pistol converted to Commercial (exposed numbers), not strictly an Alphabet Commercial (range is i through v), but I'm noting these as a matter of course. Are there any markings on the bottom of the barrel? or right receiver?

--Dwight

email sent Dwight

DG....how soon do you need this, I just do not have the time right now, but plan on a complete inventory of all my guns by 1st of Dec.....could I just give it to your then??....sorry

Dwight. Send you some data under Gereral discussions. Bill

Howard,

No time problem, my Commercial survey has already simmered much longer than I anticipated, so I'll be glad to get the info when it comes in. Thaks much.

--Dwight

Dwight, Underside of the bbl. has only the serial number no suffix. On the right side are the same four proof marks as my 1917 military that is number 69 no suffix. What exactly is an alphabet Luger? I do have another commercial, 5176n, .30 cal. hidden numbers, Germany on rt. receiver and magazine bottom, 3.75 bbl. crown n lt. receiver. I always called it a 20 commercial........Fleming

Dwight,

My alphabet has the following:

s/n 4033 o

GERMANY on left frame rail

Hidden s/n's

C/N on frame, underside of barrel, and breechblock

7.65 mm

Standard barrel length etc.

Hope this helps.

Mike:D

Mike,

Thanks much for the info.

Fleming,

Alphabet Commercial is the term many collectors now use for the variation you are referring to as 20 Commercial. It is characterized by upright c/N proof on left reciever, 3 3/4 in. barrel, in .30 Luger. Serial numbering is 1-4 digits with a letter suffix, i through v. These Lugers are new DWM/BKIW production (differentiated from reworked Imperial military Lugers), manufactured between 1921 and 1930. And thanks much for the infoon your gun, as well.

--Dwight

Dwight,
Check your PMs.
Lyn

Lyn, got it, thanks.

--Dwight

Hi Dwight;

I think this has been asked before: but ...

Is there any where your survey results are posted?

Thanks;

David Jackson

David,

The short answer is, not yet. I had hoped to have a public version and some observations before now, I'm still working on both and intend to have results up perhaps March or April. I know thats a long time, its longer than I intended, but the database is well in excess of 4,000 guns and I keep wanting to do more with it.

If you have any specific question which I can apply the data to, I will be happy to try to answer.

As far as the Alphabet Commercial-GERMANY/MADE IN GERMANY question is concerned, the small sampling I have so far suggests that, as new production, they did not adhere to the U.S. MADE IN GERMANY import law change.

--Dwight

serial number (full, with suffix) 9025 lazy lower case n

GERMANY, MADE IN GERMANY, or NO export mark/ Germany no export mark

caliber mine is a .30

serial numbers, hidden or exposed sideplate and takedown suffixes are hidden

commercial proof? It has that little eagle thing, what does a commercial proof look like? mine has 4 proofs on the receiver right side and nitro proofs.

Now a question for you, do these Lugers typical have strikers with no serial number and void of grease grooves?